An 11-year-old boy who was critically injured after being struck by a bus in Beitar Illit has died of his wounds, in a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken the city.

The accident occurred late Thursday night on Rechov Abba Shaul in Beitar Illit. The boy was hit by a passing bus while crossing the street and was found lying on the roadway with severe injuries to his abdomen and limbs.

Emergency volunteers who arrived first at the scene described the incident as extremely serious. Shmuel Feit and Binyomin Blau of Hatzalah said, “When we arrived at the scene we saw a pedestrian, an 11-year-old boy, suffering from injuries to his abdomen and limbs after being struck by a bus.”

Avremi Zeibald and Aviel Itach of Hatzalah and Magen David Adom added that they immediately began providing medical treatment. “We provided the child with initial medical treatment including bandaging and stabilization, and he was transported by intensive care ambulance to the trauma unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.”

At first, the boy’s condition was described as moderate to serious. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly after the accident and he was soon listed in critical condition. Doctors fought to save his life, but tragically he passed away during Shabbos.

The victim was identified as Michoel Shabtai, an 11-year-old talmid at Talmud Torah Nitei Meir in Beitar Illit. He was the oldest child of his parents, Reb Yisroel Shabtai and Mrs. Sarah Malka Shabtai. He was born after seven years of anticipation and heartfelt tefillos.

Immediately after the accident, the family asked the public to daven for the recovery of Michoel ben Sarah Malka. Thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel and around the world joined in tefillah and undertook Torah learning and good deeds in his merit, but despite those efforts he was ultimately niftar.

Following the news of his passing, several protesters gathered at the location of the accident and hung signs claiming the incident was a terror attack, noting that the bus driver involved in the accident was Arab.

{Matzav.com}